POSITION

• GS-0421-04 Plant Protection Technician

• GS-0421-05 Plant Protection Technician

SALARY

-Penfield

• GS-04 $17.03 per Hour

• GS-05 $19.05 per Hour

-Lockport

• GS-04 $17.70 per Hour

• GS-05 $19.80 per Hour

PROGRAM AREA

• Plant Protection and Quarantine, Field Ops, District 4

DUTY LOCATION

• Penfield, NY

• Lockport, NY

WORK SCHEDULE

• Full-time

Part Time or Intermittent may be available under special circumstances.

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT

• Limited Appointment – Temporary

May work up to 180 days per year. These positions may be extended for additional years, but no more 

than 180 days may be worked per year.

NUMBER OF VACANCIES

• Multiple Vacancies at Both Locations

TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Occasional Travel – Travel may be required for training and work assignments.

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a US Citizen or US National.

• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.

• Successful completion of one-year trial period or probationary period as applicable.

• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments 

made by direct deposit to their financial institution.

• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
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• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your 

rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

• Operation of government owned or leased vehicles will be required. Must have or be able to obtain a 

driver’s license.

WHO MAY APPLY

This announcement is open to all United States citizens.

OVERVIEW

APHIS is a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. 

agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and 

carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is 

to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues.

Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) is a program within APHIS which safeguards U.S. agriculture and natural 

resources against the entry, establishment, and spread of economically and environmentally significant pests, and 

facilitates the safe trade of agricultural products. Join our team and gain valuable experience working in the field 

to stop this invasive species from harming our nation’s agriculture.

These positions will be working on projects combating the European Cherry Fruit Fly or the Box Tree Moth based 

on the location of the position. Join our team and gain valuable experience working in the field to stop these

invasive species from harming our nation’s agriculture. Find a link to the PPQ website here and learn more about 

our program: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-pests/ecff/cherry-fruit-fly

and;

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-anddiseases/box-tree-moth

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties may include, but not limited to, the following:

• Contacting landowners, tenants, farmers, nurserymen, orchardists, commercial facilities, municipal

authorities, and others to secure permission to conduct survey and inspection responsibilities.

• Inspecting trees for exotic plant pests; trapping insects on private properties, nurseries, and other 

situations.

• Identifying and marking trees for treatment or removal.

• Assisting with/conducting treatments and conducting follow-up inspections.

• Collecting survey and inspection data using a provided government-owned electronic device and 

maintaining daily records of work completed.

• Commuting to and from the vehicle parking station, operating a government owned vehicle while

conducting duties, and use GPS or other approved tools to navigate.

• Working independently or as part of a team in a field environment and in collaboration with cooperating 

agencies.

• Will be exposed to a variety of environmental conditions typical of Northwestern New York, with 

expectations to work outdoors throughout the May-October survey season. Typical environmental 

conditions may include; cold, heat, sun, rain, snow, wind, biting/stinging insects, dogs, domestic/wild 

animals, poison ivy, etc.
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QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• For the GS-04 grade level: Six months general experience & six months specialized experience,

OR; successful completion of 2 years of study that included at least 8 semester hours in courses listed 

below, OR; a combination of experience and education.

• For the GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4 (see examples below), 

OR; 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree with 16 semester hours in 

coursework related to the occupation, OR; a combination of experience and education.

General Experience:

o Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, OR;

o Experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area 

of the occupation.

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Qualifying specialized experience must have 

provided familiarity with the methods, procedures, and techniques involved in inspecting, detecting, 

identifying, eradicating, suppressing, or controlling plant pests, and in the enforcement of Federal and 

State quarantines. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

o Inspecting nursery plants for the presence of a specific plant pest.

o Surveying areas for specific plant pests or for the presence of alternate plant hosts.

o Developing rough maps showing control or eradication treatment completed, areas surveyed, or pest 

finds located.

o Performing survey control or eradication procedures in a local pest control program.

o Answering questions regarding plant pest control procedures, harmful side-effects of pesticides to 

other living organisms, etc.

o Inspecting vehicles in the enforcement of plant quarantine regulations.

o Performing laboratory work involved with raising and/or sterilizing various insects.

Education Coursework for Education Substitution: Biology, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Zoology, 

Botany, Forestry, Chemistry, Agriculture, or Physics.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be submitted to the following address or email:

USDA, APHIS, PPQ

Attn. Hiring Department

801 Richfield Street Building A

Lockport, NY 14094

OR;

Email to: PPQ.ECFF@aphis.usda.gov Please list the Position Title in the subject line.

Applicants are required to submit the following items in their application for consideration:

• Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 

3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work 

schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other 

qualifications or certifications; and 5) supervisors name and phone number for each work period listed 

and whether or not they may be contacted for reference checks.

• When claiming Veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, 

which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you 
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must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable 

conditions within 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.

• Disabled Veterans must also submit a VA Disability Letter (if applicable) for verification of serviceconnected disability.

• Schedule A candidates must include a Schedule A Letter for eligible disabled persons. To be eligible for 

Schedule A, you must provide a proof of a disability letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, 

severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability. You can get this letter from your doctor, a licensed 

medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist or any federal, state, or local agency 

that issues or provides disability benefits. Letter must be on office Letterhead.

• Military Spouses must provide a copy of: Spouse ID card, Copy of spouse’s Active-Duty Military Orders, 

and Marriage Certificate.

• Peace Corps or VISTA Volunteers must provide their NCE Letter.

• Must submit a copy of Transcripts if qualifying with education as listed in qualifications section (if 

applicable). Transcripts can be unofficial but, if selected, candidates will be required to submit official 

transcripts before start date.

Equal Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Privacy Act
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Application Cover Sheet 

(Completion is required for your application to be considered) 

Name: Email: 

Primary Phone: Alternate Phone: 

Position(s) Applying For: 

Application Checklist: 

☐ Application Cover Sheet

☐ Resume

☐ Transcripts – If Applicable (May be copy initially, Official Transcripts will be required if selected)

☐ Preference Documents – If Applicable (such as; Veteran Documents, VA Letter, Schedule A Letter)

Please indicate where you learned about this job (please be specific indicating name, location, date, etc.):

Career Fair: Social Media: 

Newspaper: Employment Services: 

College Career Services: Other (please specify): 

Mailing Address: USDA, APHIS, PPQ 

ATTN: HIRING DEPARTMENT 

801 Richfield St, Building A 

Lockport, NY 14094 

Contact For More Information: ppq.ecff@usda.gov 

1-800-249-2363

NOTE: Applicant email address and phone numbers must remain up to date as they will be used for all 

communication regarding potential employment.